Anupriya Pandey had spent most of her life since the world’s transformation in an endeavor to shield herself and her people from harm. That goal had pushed her to become the Citadel Sage, founding Earth’s most defensible city. It had held against all threats, even keeping an alien army of hostile elves at bay. Since then, she’d made hundreds of improvements – small and large – to enhance those already-stout defenses.

  And here she was, inviting a weapon of mass destruction inside.

  It was madness. By all rights, she should have kept Elijah Hart at arm’s length. He was too dangerous to be allowed inside, even if Anupriya believed his intentions were benign.

  But this was a new era.

  Kalki had opened itself to trade with both New York and the Snow Leopard tribe of Hill Goblins. They allowed immigrants and refugees alike. The city’s homogenous population had already been diluted, and Anupriya was not na?ve enough to believe that none of those new entrants were spies.

  Or worse, saboteurs.

  No city could remain entirely sealed, though. No fortress could exist without support from the outside world. It was a simple reality she’d been forced to accept.

  Certainly, Kalki’s farmers were hard at work trying to make the city self-sufficient, but even if they succeeded – which seemed more plausible by the day – the residents would not remain isolated. Humans were social creatures who railed at confinement, even if it was in their best interests. They wanted to branch out, to visit other cities, to learn new things and explore new territories.

  It was idiocy.

  Anupriya was perfectly happy presiding over her city. As long as she was safe, as long as her walls held strong, she would remain inside. She would do her duty, which included going to New York and meeting with those self-interested idiots who called themselves leaders, but otherwise, she would continue to build Kalki’s defenses.

  Because another attack was coming.

  She could feel it in her bones. Perhaps it would not arrive soon, but arrive it would. And when that happened, she would be ready. Kalki’s walls would stand tall and strong, repelling any potential invasion.

  They would all be safe.

  Running counter to that was the man following behind her. Even with a dozen guards surrounding him – each one enhanced by Anupriya’s Citadel Defense ability – he was entirely unbothered. And rightly so. He was the most powerful man in the world, and not by a small margin. If he wanted to slaughter everyone in Kalki, he could. The city’s defenses might slow him down a little, but they would not stop him. Not if he was truly determined.

  Even the other two – Hu Shui and Sadie Song – were strong enough to cause major problems. If they’d remained without, that would not be the case. However, now that they were inside, they could wreak havoc among her people.

  But she could not refuse either of them. Hu Shui’s Conclave was too important to the prosperity of her city. His Spires had increased trade, making luxuries available that otherwise would not have been. And even discounting her personal power, Sadie Song could call an army at a moment’s notice. And the respondents were people who’d conquered Primal Realms, which meant that they were all powerful in their own rights.

  No - they might not have been as personally dangerous as Elijah Hart, but making enemies of those two would be a grave mistake.

  And now all three were in her city.

  Hu Shui had arrived only a few days before, ostensibly on a state visit, but Anupriya knew that he was waiting on Hart and Song. Why, she couldn’t know, but she expected it had something to do with international politics. Why else would people of their stature descend upon her city?

  She led them through the citadel, and along the way, she noticed a hundred small mistakes that would need to be addressed. When she had designed them, the ethereal matrices had been perfect. Or that was what she’d thought. Now, she could see things more clearly, and she recognized the tangled mess for what it represented – imperfection.

  It was the bane of her existence.

  With a mundane building, architecture and engineering came down to simple math. However, when ethera was involved, things became much more complicated. It was like comparing arithmetic to algebraic topology. The two subjects were ostensibly related, but one was so complex that even dedicated professionals struggled to answer the questions it posed. Meanwhile, the first was something a child could understand.

  And Anupriya knew that she’d only brushed against the shallowest understanding of ethereal engineering. That truth was both daunting and exciting, with an emphasis on the latter. Knowing that there were new frontiers to discover was one of the factors that kept her going.

  Aside from a need to keep her people safe, that was.

  As she traversed her citadel, Anupriya noted and catalogued each mistake she noticed. At the same time, she attempted to keep an eye on her guests, who’d already begun to converse among themselves.

  The two men seemed to be in a smiling competition, with both wearing masks of pleasantry that Anupriya knew would be discarded at a moment’s notice. Meanwhile, Sadie Song’s face remained impassive, her eyes curious.

  “This is an impressive fortress,” she remarked.

  “It is and will always be my life’s work,” Anupriya responded. “Safety for my people is my priority, but we also strive to maintain beauty, both in form and function.”

  “A noble goal.”

  “I am but a servant of my people. We exist in symbiosis. They support me, while I protect them. Such is the way with all true leaders.”

  “I’ve met some people who believe otherwise,” Hart interjected.

  “Then they are no true leaders.”

  “Agreed,” Song added.

  Before the conversation could go any further, they reached their destination – the citadel’s guest wing. Once there, Anupriya had one of the staff show them to their apartments. Each one was fit for a queen, with multiple rooms and lavish décor. They also boasted balconies that provided an impressive view of the citadel’s inner courtyard, which was dominated by fountains and hanging gardens. It served no practical purpose, but as she’d already stated, beauty was important as well, if only to remind her people why they fought.

  In any case, she left her guests there and retreated to her own quarters where she began her preparations for the coming feast. In the past, such a luxury would not have been possible, but with the deluge of trade that had come their way, it was a viable extravagance.

  After taking a bath and dressing – again, wearing a fresh set of ceremonial armor – she found her sister waiting. Shrishti wore a modest, blue Anarkali suit with gold brocade. The flowing kameez reached her ankles, flared to such a degree that it looked almost like a gown. A simple scarf draped over her shoulders, and her jaw-length hair was held back by delicate gold band.

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  She looked stunning.

  “If you do not wish to attend the feast, I understand,” Anupriya told her sister. “It may be chaotic.”

  Shrishti shook her head, though as always, she didn’t give voice to her dissent. It was clear that she intended to be there to greet their guests.

  Anupriya gave the younger woman a simple nod, saying, “Very well. If you feel overwhelmed, just let us know.”

  Shrishti gave her a grin – a rare occurrence – then threw her arms around Anupriya. The girl trembled with the embrace, either from excitement or discomfort at being touched. Not for the first time, Anupriya considered her sister’s strength. The girl had been through so much, and yet, she still forged ahead. She tried to push herself. She wanted to overcome her trauma.

  And while she’d yet to be successful, there was no doubt that she would one day reach that summit.

  Their family was made of iron, and they refused to break, even in an apocalypse.

  After Anupriya took the time to arrange her own uniform – which, given the armor, veered more toward the masculine end of the spectrum – swapping out her jewelry for more elaborate pieces. As always, she carried her tulwar, as much to complete the image of a warrior queen as because she thought she might need it.

  When she finally looked in the mirror, she was satisfied with the results.

  Anupriya had ever been beautiful, for all the good it had done in the wake of the world’s transformation. Sometimes, beauty was an unwanted invitation, as many young women discovered when the authorities could no longer enforce the laws that kept the beasts at bay.

  The only solution was personal strength. They couldn’t rely on anyone else to protect them. Not anymore. Instead, they needed power of their own. It was a lesson many – male and female alike – never had the chance to learn.

  There was still an hour before she needed to make her entrance, so Anupriya busied herself the same way she always did – by going over plans for improving Kalki’s defenses. The walls could always be higher, the siege engines atop the towers could always be more powerful, and the underlying structure could always be more perfect.

  She lost herself in that until, at last, one of her assistants – a young man named Ajit – informed her that it was time. After making a few last second adjustments to her plans, she rose from her desk and joined her sister in the foyer.

  “Stop picking at the brocade,” she chided Shrishti.

  The younger woman didn’t respond – not even a nod. But she did try to take control of her nervous fidgeting. Together – along with her twin guards, Vikram and Ishani Singh – they made their way to the banquet hall, which was one of Shrishti’s favorite places. The younger woman lit up the second she laid eyes on it.

  And it wasn’t difficult to see why.

  The hall itself, made of the same red sandstone as the rest of the fortress city, was exactly one-hundred meters long and sixty meters wide. Ringed by columns that supported the open-air balcony, it featured hanging gardens, ethereal crystal lighting, and a low, long table.

  The smell was what Shrishti liked the most, though. The subtle aroma of jasmine hung in the air, comforting and reassuring.

  Already, a few dignitaries had arrived. Most were important residents of the city – people who’d risen to prominence because they performed vital functions or brought incredible wealth to Kalki. However, there were a few foreigners present as well. Diplomats from other cities who wanted to foster a relationship.

  They all looked up at Anupriya’s arrival, and she forced a smile upon her face as she made the rounds. She was no politician, so she found the necessity to be a burden. Shrishti took the attention even worse, melting into the background where she could go unnoticed.

  With her appearance, some people might have approached her if it hadn’t been for Ishani standing guard and glaring at anyone who came close. The woman looked at Shrishti like an easily broken and cherished figurine, and had vowed to protect her at all costs – whether Shrishti wanted it or not. In this instance, she clearly did, though.

  Finally, the guests of honor arrived, and Anupriya went to work. The greeting was traditional, and she ended it by bestowing garlands of marigold and jasmine around their necks. They accepted it graciously – or at least Sadie Song and Hu Shui did. Elijah Hart was enthusiastic and delighted, clearly eager to learn more about the symbolism.

  That was unexpected, and Anupriya quickly explained that they were meant to symbolize peace, strength, and purity. There was more to it, but that was the shortest accurate answer she could give. Thankfully, he accepted it without further questions, and soon enough, they – and all the rest of the guests – were seated at the low table.

  Unlike many foreigners, they did not complain about the lack of chairs. Instead, they seemed entirely comfortable seated on the provided cushions.

  After a short time, the first course arrived.

  “What are these called?” Hart asked, taking a bite of the crispy fritter he’d been given.

  “Pakoras,” answered Ramesh, the Minister for Agriculture in Kalki. “Made with chickpea flour grown right here in the city.”

  “They’re pretty amazing,” Hart remarked, his eyes flashing emerald. The minister flinched slightly at the man’s overbearing aura, but he hid it behind another wide smile. Everyone at the table felt something similar, and if Anupriya didn’t know better, she would have likened it to a mental attack. However, she knew that he had no skills or spells active. The aura came from his mere presence, which was a terrifying realization.

  The next course – comprised of biryani, dal makhani, saag, and paneer curry – arrived soon after, coupled with naan and roti. The Druid’s genuine enthusiasm mounted with every bite, which put those closest to him at ease.

  Anupriya was so distracted by Hart’s presence that she didn’t even notice what was going on with Shrishti. Her sister had been seated next to Sadie Song, and against all odds, the pair had formed a hasty bond. Neither spoke, but they exchanged tight smiles, and Shrishti seemed to delight in pushing the other woman to try all of the foods. Song was particularly fond of the paneer curry.

  It wasn’t until after dessert had been served and everyone rose to mingle among the other guests that Song approached her and asked the inevitable question. “What happened? Has she always been non-verbal.”

  Anupriya shook her head. “No. It is…the result of trauma.”

  “I think I can help.”

  Anupriya blinked. “You can?”

  “Maybe. I’m not certain. Sometimes, my powers are unpredictable. I can guarantee that she will not be harmed, though. I will not do it unless both of you consent,” she said, glancing from Shrishti to Anupriya. The younger woman nodded enthusiastically, but Anupriya did not immediately agree.

  Not until she got some more information.

  Song explained that, among her abilities was a unique healing ability that could theoretically do the impossible. The explanation was vague, but it was tinged with enough hope that Anupriya eventually agreed.

  If anyone else had offered, she might not have. But she had heard stories about Sadie Song, about the miracles she could perform. And hope could often overcome even the staunchest objections.

  “What do you need?” Anupriya asked.

  “Privacy.”

  That requirement was easily met, and it wasn’t long before the three of them – with Ishani standing guard – found themselves in a secluded room nearby. There, Sadie Song laid her hand on Shrishti’s forehead and closed her eyes. “This may feel odd,” she announced.

  Then, ethera surged, potent and pure. But the powerful flow was nothing compared to the other source of energy Anupriya felt. Despite the strength of that second source, Anupriya could not identify it, other than that it left her feeling small and hopeful in equal measure.

  Song said something in a language Anupriya could not understand, and the two sources of energy coalesced into a combination that far exceeded the sum of its parts. It left Anupriya breathless and terrified.

  And it would not stop.

  Sadie Song gritted her teeth, and wings of light spread from her back, filling the room. Similar white light enveloped her entire body, and the air crackled with impossibly potent energy.

  Anupriya was immediately cleansed of all impurities, any lingering and ignored ailments cured in the space of a few seconds. But even her mind cleared. The weight of her own trauma lessened, and she felt more attuned to her own goals than ever before.

  And that was just from being close.

  When Anupriya focused on her sister, Shrishti’s arms were outstretched, and her head was tilted toward the vaulted ceiling. Light erupted from her open mouth and her eyes, scorching the very air. But Shristi remained unharmed.

  Indeed, with every passing second, she healed. And Anupriya knew that the scars hidden beneath her sister’s Anarkali suit faded as well.

  And then, suddenly, it ceased.

  Shrishti went limp, though Anupriya darted forward to catch her. That meant there was no one to help Sadie Song, who fell to her knees, panting with the effort. Anupriya could scarcely bring herself to care about the foreigner’s condition, she was too focused on her sister.

  “Shristi…”

  Her eyes fluttered open, and for the briefest of instants, she seemed confused. Then, an unfamiliar expression spread across the younger woman’s face. She’d smiled before, though not frequently. But this…this was different. A combination of happiness and relief that Anupriya hadn’t seen on her sister’s face since before the world had changed.

  “Sister,” the younger woman said. “It is…it is gone. The darkness is gone.”

  If you'd like to read more of Path of Dragons, we're almost two full books ahead (book 14 just started) on Patreon. That's 175+ extra chapters, so a ton of extra content for those of you who can't wait to see what Elijah will get up to. Anyway - check it out .

  For anyone interested in discussing the story, you can join my Discord .

  Thanks for all your support, comments, ratings, and reviews!